Microsoft today detailed what gamers can expect in the next Xbox One update, which is expected to arrive in August. There are eight additions and changes the company has highlighted: activity feed updates, expanded Friends area on Home, mobile purchases, low battery notification, disable notifications during video, 3D Blu-ray, OneGuide in more countries, and last seen time in Friends list.
First up, the activity feed interface is being changed to a single column scrolling list “that is longer and includes more content.” Gamers will gain the ability to post text to their feed, to “like” and comment on feed items, to share game clips and anything else publicly (to your activity feed) or privately (as an attachment to a message). You’ll also get notifications when anyone likes, comments on, or shares your items.
Furthermore, each user will get a personal feed on their profile, so you can see what specific friends have been up to. SmartGlass will get access to this new feature too: it will you see what your friends have shared to their activity feed and “like” specific posts (additional activity feed features will come in future SmartGlass updates). In short, this is the Facebook News Feed for your Xbox One.
Speaking of what your friends are up to, the friends list will now show how long it’s been since a friend has been online (for example, “Last seen 20m ago: Forza Motorsport 5.”). Furthermore, the Home area is getting an expanded section for friends that shows their current activity, the top trending games they’re playing, and a leaderboard based on everyone’s Gamerscore. This particular feature is being tested under an “extended preview,” so you might not get it as soon as everyone else – Microsoft still plans to “refine it until it’s ready for the entire Xbox One market.”
Next up, mobile purchases are a go. Using Xbox SmartGlass or directly on Xbox.com, you will be able to buy games and add-on content from your mobile device. The best part: if your console is set to automatically take updates, it will begin downloading your purchase even if you’re not home.
The Xbox One is also getting a notification when your controller battery is getting low, the ability to disable notifications during video playback, and 3D Blu-ray support. Finally, the OneGuide is coming to Brazil, Mexico, Austria, and Ireland.
If you have early access to the Xbox One system update, you can expect to get this update “in the next week.” Microsoft says these features are mainly coming from the Xbox Feedback site it launched last month, and there is thus still a lot more to come.
Paul Balo is the founder of TechBooky and a highly skilled wireless communications professional with a strong background in cloud computing, offering extensive experience in designing, implementing, and managing wireless communication systems.
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